The House Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee heard HB 1363 authored by Rep. John Young on various Department of Child Services (DCS) changes. The bill removes the filing requirement for a verified parental participation petition before the juvenile court can proceed to disposition. The bill also makes certain changes regarding the DCS changing a child’s out of home placement and adds DCS employees to the list of individuals who may raise a defense for possession of child pornography for acts performed solely within the scope of the individual’s employment.
The bill was amended by consent to add an attorney acting in the attorney’s capacity as legal counsel for a client to individuals who may raise a defense for possession of child pornography for acts performed within the scope of their employment.
The following organizations testified in favor of the bill: The Indiana Department of Child Services and the Indiana Public Defender Council. The amended bill passed 12-0.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2022/bills/house/1363